Rick Ferroni remembers the 10-year-old kid he coached back with the Niagara Falls Rivermen. He was smaller than the other kids, and frail. He had a mop-top of red hair.

And when he was cut by his Triple-A team, Ferroni went to bat for him — because there was something about Mac Hollowell that stood out.

“I told the coach, ‘This kid’s got raw talent, he’s got grit and you can just tell he’s got the X-factor, so we should keep him,'” said Ferroni. “So I made sure we called him up all the time and then I started working with him like crazy.

“There were kids who were bigger, there were kids who were stronger, or better or with more resources, but Mac’s just a resilient kid. He’s gritty and literally one of the best and nicest kids I’ve ever trained in my life. His attitude and character is why he will play in the NHL one day.”